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My Christmas Eve Spent in the Family Blazer

I’m going to share a story with you about the year I spent Christmas Eve in the family Blazer.I was 10 years old.

It was Christmas Eve 1982. People that live in Colorado will remember this storm. Bad storms are nothing new for Coloradans. I’m sure you’ve seen those posts about “You know you’re from Colorado if…” and most of the stuff on t here is completely true. We are no stranger to many feet of snow on the ground nor driving in it. The difference between this storm and others is the severity and long-lasting impact this storm had. You can check out this website for more details. I want to focus on my story of that snowy night back in 1982.

My family moved to Grand Junction, CO from Longmont back in 1980. Every year, we made trips back to Longmont to spend time with family and friends. Christmas was one of those times. Each year we would load up the Blazer (at least until we got rid of it for something else) and make the four or five hour trek to Longmont. We usually took highway 287 into Longmont but you can also take I-25.

By the time we hit Denver, the snow was falling heavily, the winds were howling, and all roads into and out of Denver were being shut down. The only place we found was a motel called The Bronco Inn. Unfortunately, the place was packed with people that were trapped by the storm. We didn’t have any choice but to spend the night in the Blazer.

I remember being totally freaked OUT at the idea of spending Christmas Eve in the Blazer! How was Santa supposed to find us if we weren’t in our accustomed place at Grammy and Grandpa’s house? My mother and father insisted that he could fins us where ever we were. He was magic you see. 😉

Anyway, with the vehicle running, mom and dad got us girls (Me, Cimarron, and Bree) settled in as best they could. Us girls actually got the better deal; my folks had to sleep int he front seats.

Well, the best surprise of ALL awaited us Christmas morning. Much to our surprise and utter delight, Santa indeed had been able to find us. Presents and stocking were piled around us. Pretty surprised we hadn’t woken up. I’ll never forget that sense of wonder and magic as we woke up and spotted our gifts and stockings. 🙂 I’ll also never forget what I got that year; a pink sink (can’t remember if it was Barbie or knock-off) that you filled with water and could pump to wash Barbie’s hair. Coolest gift ever. We also got our usual Life Saver’s books. Man, I love those things!

When I think back to that day, I can’t help but imagine my parents being ever so quiet and walking outside in the bitter cold to fetch the presents out of the way back (that’s what we always called the furthest back compartment of the Blazer). I don’t imagine them being able to get them any other way. With us girls sleeping on the back seat and floorboard, they would have had a greater chance of waking us up. Anyway, I’ll picture them braving the elements to make sure we got to keep the magic of Christmas alive!

I used to envy my neighbors because they got those Lifesavers books and my parents wouldn’t buy them. Isn’t it sad that you can want something so much as a kid, and then when you’re old enough to buy it for yourself the magic is gone?